The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-18
The Rule of Gibson and His Mon.

New Bedford Mercury.
Capt Abram W. Pierce. an old resident of the
Hawaiian Islands, who is visiting in this city.
expresses unbounded pleasure at the result OF
the revolution which has deposed the old corrupt
Ministry and placed in power men animated by
a patriotic desire to serve the country. He docs
not express very high opinion of Kalakaua. but
says he will do as well as anyone for q figure
head In the Captains language the King will
henceforth "reign, but not rule"
.All the trouble" said Captain Pierce. ''has
come from that scamp Gibson, the Prime Min
lister under the old regime"
Gibson is a native Of South Carolina He has
had checkered career in many lands, among
prisonment by the Dutch for selling arms or in
citing rebellion in Java. When freed from
prison he returned to the United States and in
duced the government to make demand the
Dutch for damages. But after investigation
of the case it dropped. Then he drfted to
the Hawaiian Island agent of the Nor
mons. when it was thought they might be forced
to leave Utah. He was Entrusted with funds to
buy lands for them, aud did make purchase on
the island of Sanai, but had the deeds made out
in his own name, and when the Saints wanted
their property he had forgotten all about them.
He still holds the lands. Later he established q
newspaper in the Hawaiian language protesting
the warmest love for his brown skinned
brethren" and won his way into their regard so
effectually that when he became candidate for
the Legislature he far ahead of his ticket.
He raised the cry of Hawaii for the Hawaiians,"
and making himself solid with the King, was
finally elevated by him to the head of the Ministry.
At times he has held more than one portfolio.
and has effectually dominated the whole Cabinet,
besides making himself president of the board
of health, school board and various other boards.
One of his schemes was to make Kalakaua
Emperor of the Pacific Ocean. He persuaded
Kalakaus that it would be a great thing to
al the islands within reach, or. he
put it, place them under the tutelage" of
Hawaii
Kalakaua was pie ased with the notion, and
navy" was fitted up The navy consists of ono
vessel, placed under the command of an English
lieutenant, who had been dismissed in disgrace
from the British navy, but VINO was dubbed
admiral" The crew was q rotten lot OF raga-
mullins. Cadets were i'm provsed from re-
the harbor there was grand drunk, resulting
in the ignominious dismissal from the service OF
several of his Majesty's officers.
At last accounts this precious crew had gone
to annex to the Hawaiian dominons the is
lands of Smoa- They are two thousand miles
from Hawa and nobody knows how the expe-
dition has succeeded.
Another of Gibson's devices was the histori-
cal jubilee, which lasted two weeks and cost the
people several thousand dollars-all to please
the vanity of the King. Gibson then engineered
the construction of the palace-a structure
which cost far more than was dreamed of at
first. but which kept up the notion Of regal
pomp and splendor.
Another royal absurdity was the establishment
of several .sorders.p There are several
OF these-the Order of Kalakaua." the
"Order of Oceanicar and the s.Order
of Kapiolani," with perhaps others Attached
to them is all the solemn nonsense OF ribbons
and decorations. many of which arc proudly
worn by such afford the luxury For
while Kalakauna graciousy bestows these orders
those who have earned the royal favor it
costs the recipient about 500 for the various
certificates which go with them. There were
even smoker transactions than these--such as
attempt to divert to the crown certain oublic
lands, the revenues of which should be applied
to public uses. the squandering or misappropri-
alton of money raised for internal improvements
and the affair OF the opium license bribery.
Then the Legislature composed of notori-
ously unfit nen-'elected by gin,n said the
Captain-ane controlled by Gibson and the
King All these things had moved the decent
people Of the islands TO prepare to bring about .
change
Captain Pierce said the revolution had been